Background: Cancer is a disease which affects not only patients but also their families physically and emotionally. The purpose of this study was to determine the needs, challenges and ways of coping of caregivers of cancer patients. Materials and Methods: In the study, a phenomenological approach was used. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews. The study sample comprised 16 family members providing care for a cancer patient. Results: The study findings are grouped under four main themes: the impact of caregiving, masking feelings, experienced challenges and expectations, and coping. During the caregiving process, patient relatives are affected physiologically, psychologically and socially. It was determined that patient relatives hid their feelings and avoided talking about the disease for fear that they might upset the patient, and that they had difficulty in coping with the patient's reactions during the treatment process. Family members had difficulties arising from the health system, hospital conditions and treatment in addition to transportation and financial problems. Support is very important in coping, but it was determined that some of the relatives of patients did not receive adequate support. Patient relatives expect that health care professionals should provide them with more information about their patient's condition and the course of the disease that their patients should be dealt with by the physicians specialized in cancer, and that psychological support should be provided both for them and for their patient. Conclusions: During the caregiving process, family members are faced with many difficulties and they exhibit different coping behaviors which health care professionals should take into account.

Aim The aim of this study was to explore secondary traumatic stress experiences of nurses caring for cancer patients. Methods A qualitative descriptive approach was taken in the study. The team conducted semi‐structured in‐depth interviews with 13 oncology nurses. We evaluated the responses collected using content analysis. Results Three distinct themes emerged from the interviews: cycle of desperation, coping, and change. Conclusion Based on the results obtained, it is suggested that programs containing cognitive restructuring techniques be developed; peer support groups may enable senior nurses to guide inexperienced nurses.

This study investigated empowerment, social support, and diabetes-related characteristics as predictors of self-care behaviors and glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes in Turkey. Descriptive cross-sectional and relational research designs were used in this study. The study was carried out with a cohort of 220 individuals with type 2 diabetes. Linear regression analysis revealed that patient empowerment was a statistically significant predictor of diet (β = .30; p < .001), exercise (β = .19; p = .003), blood glucose monitoring (β = .27; p < .001), foot care (β = .27; p < .001), and A1c (β = -.19; p = .004). Social support was a statistically significant predictor of diet (β = .24; p < .001), exercise (β = .26; p < .001), blood glucose monitoring (β = .16; p = .011), and foot care (β = .19; p = .003). These results indicate that social support and empowerment are important for nurses to consider when planning interventions that increase the self-care behavior of individuals with type 2 diabetes and for improving glycemic control.

The aim of this study was to investigate use of complementary and alternative medicines, and factors that affect use of these agents, in individuals with diabetes. This cross-sectional and descriptive study was performed at the outpatient clinics of four hospitals in Turkey with 396 diabetic individuals between October 2006 and March 2007. In this study, 34.6% of the participants were using complementary and alternative medicine in addition to conventional medicine; 73% of these individuals had not informed their doctors and nurses about their complementary and alternative medicine practice. Nurses, as health care providers, should not ignore complementary and alternative medicine options. Instead, they should try to determine the rate of complementary and alternative medicine use among their patients and understand their effects and the reasons for use of these agents. Nurses should learn more about these medicines and educate their patients.

The most recommended goal in the management of chronic illnesses is the individual's acceptance of the illness, a factor which has not been investigated in Turkish society. We, therefore, distributed 300 questionnaires at hospitals in Turkey, with the aim of identifying the illness acceptance levels of Type 2 diabetes patients. Of the 300 patients, 46% were found to have a low acceptance level, which was related to low education and income status, the presence of other chronic illnesses, recent diagnosis, low social support, low self-efficacy, and pessimistic life orientation. Recommendations are made for interventions to increase the illness acceptance level of diabetic patients.